News from Camp Morton - May 28, 1861

Columbia City News ~ Friday May 28, 1861
Camp Morton, May 24, 1861.

Dear News: - - Your old friend and well wisher is in camp; quartered with the "Whitley Boys" and are all in good health. We arrived here by way of Railroad via Ft. Wayne, Peru and Indianapolis. We got along finely until near Kokomo, at a little place called Fairfield, 25 miles from Peru; here one of our boys and a brakeman got into a collision; got up quite a muss, indeed. The conductor became enraged and in his pet let us off on a side track. Mr. Samuel Keefer, Capt. Geo. Stough, and your correspondent got on the train and went to Indianapolis and got the matter arranged.

Hon. David Macy, President of the Road, sent Mr. Robinson, Superintendent, down to bring our company up. Captain Stough and myself went along; at 2 o'clock, P. M., we reached the place where the Boys were lying; in a few minutes we were off for Indianapolis, at which place we arrived in due time; we got into camp about six o'clock, got our rations, eat them (after cooking) with much avidity; all then took a good sleep for the first night.

The boys all speak well of Hon. Dave Macy and Mr. Robinson for their promptness in our behalf, but are down on that Conductor and Brakeman with a vengeance. "Shouldn't wonder." I will here say that our good friend Samuel Keefer stuck to us like a true man, and our boys will remember him with much pleasure. Owing to the fact that we have not got settled yet, I cannot give you anything very definite about our destination. We have been transferred from the State service to the United States service. This transfer I was in many respects opposed to, but from many influences which were brought to bear on the boys, they consented to be transferred.

I hope it will all be for the best. I think the war will not last more than 10 or 12 weeks - this is the general impression. I am now writing in the office of Colonel Beriton, of the 8th Regiment, who is a gallant officer and noble good fellow. I am at home in his office; he is from Wayne County near Richmond; his regiment was favored with a most splendid regiment banner from the ladies of Indianapolis and Terry Haute, which was a splendid affair. I must close for this time. I hope you and your readers will all flourish like the Cedars of Lebanon. So, Good-bye. Mac.